Ross Chastain, a prominent NASCAR driver, has opened up about the challenges and emotions surrounding the recent departure of his longtime crew chief Phil Surgen as the 2026 season approaches. The split between Chastain and Surgen, after nearly five years together at Trackhouse Racing, has introduced new pressures for the driver and his team as they adjust to major changes in leadership roles.
Chastain Reflects on Longtime Partnership with Phil Surgen
Throughout their partnership, Chastain and Surgen formed a close working relationship, often seen as inseparable figures within Trackhouse Racing. Speaking in an interview with Toby Christie, Chastain expressed that he originally intended to finish his Cup Series career alongside Surgen but accepted the crew chief’s desire for a new direction. He explained:
“Well, for sure. I thought I was going to end my Cup career with Phil Surgen, and it just came time for him and his family to be home more. I understand that. This is a grind and he came to us with plenty of time and explained what he wanted to do, and he created his own job really at the top of Trackhouse with Darian Grubb (Director of Performance at TR) and the leadership group over the competition side and he can help Brandon, he can help Randall now, Steven on our three cars.”
– Ross Chastain, NASCAR driver
Surgen’s shift to a front-office role overseeing leadership and performance has created space for new collaboration on the track, pushing Chastain to adapt quickly to a different crew chief dynamic.
The Arrival of Brandon McSwain as New Crew Chief
After considering several candidates for the crew chief role, Chastain made a deliberate choice in selecting Brandon McSwain, a newcomer to full-time Cup Series crew chief responsibilities. McSwain’s background includes extensive engineering experience with Hendrick Motorsports, serving William Byron’s #24 car since 2019. Chastain described his decision-making process for McSwain’s appointment:
“So he was my vote, and that wasn’t like, it wasn’t like I slammed my fist on the table and said I got to have him, I just said I think this is the guy, and I made my case. There were great candidates out there ready, that are ready to crew chief that haven’t and also some veteran guys that are crew chief or will soon again. So I feel like I could have made it work with a few of them, but my vote was Brandon. At some point, you got to make a decision.”
– Ross Chastain, NASCAR driver
Despite McSwain’s rookie status in this leadership role, he faces immediate pressure due to Chastain’s recent performance struggles and the high expectations tied to the team’s top driver. McSwain is tasked with helping Chastain reclaim dominance after being overshadowed by teammate Shane van Gisbergen, who secured five wins last season compared to Chastain’s single victory.
Trackhouse Racing’s Recent Team Performance and Expectations
The collaboration between Chastain and Surgen yielded six race wins, including a major victory at the 2025 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Additionally, they reached the Championship 4 in 2022 but were ultimately beaten by Joey Logano in the season finale held in Phoenix.
Now with Surgen’s transition out of crew chief duties, Trackhouse Racing’s future success may hinge on the newly formed partnership between Chastain and McSwain, as well as the leadership adjustments in the engineering and performance division.
Reasons Behind Phil Surgen’s Departure from Crew Chief Role
Phil Surgen recently discussed his decision to step down as crew chief during a podcast with Jon Cain and representatives from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He cited family considerations and a demanding travel schedule as primary factors influencing the move:
“Personally, I had a desire to travel less. As a crew chief, I was traveling 38 weekends a year and with a young family, I just felt the need to spend more time at home with the family. So, now I’ve transitioned to director of technology.”
– Phil Surgen, former crew chief
In his new capacity as director of technology at Trackhouse Racing, Surgen leads a team of race engineers tasked with monitoring and improving the performance of the team’s three cars, a critical role that supports the drivers from behind the scenes.
Current Trackhouse Racing Lineup and Future Outlook
Ross Chastain will continue to pilot the #1 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, supported by Shane van Gisbergen driving the #97 and newcomer Connor Zilisch behind the wheel of the #88, following his replacement of Daniel Suarez. The evolving team structure aims to maximize competitive opportunities while easing personnel strains.
Looking ahead, the effectiveness of the new crew chief-driver partnership will be closely watched as Trackhouse Racing strives to maintain its competitive edge in the NASCAR Cup Series. This transition period is key not only for Chastain’s career trajectory but also for the overall team strategy heading into upcoming races.
Ross Chastain felt he would retire from the #NASCAR Cup Series with Phil Surgen as his crew chief. However, he fully understands that Surgen and his family needed more time together away from the track. pic.twitter.com/GK1eyGajTX
— Toby Christie (@Toby_Christie) February 11, 2026
